Could you give a gnome a home this half-term?

Squire’s Garden Centre in Washington have found some gnomes that need a home! Bring your children to Squire’s during half-term (Monday February 15 and Friday February 19) between 10am-4pm, and they can paint a gnome, name it, and take it home with them, all for just £4.

There’s no need to book, simply turn up on the day.

There is also a free colouring competition with a prize to be won and a free garden maze - each child who completes the maze will get a sticker.

Squire’s encourage the resurgence of garden gnomes

The first known garden gnomes were produced in Germany in the early 1800’s, and they started to appear in English gardens from the 1840’s onwards.

Gnomes are symbols of good luck, and they were placed in the garden to protect buried treasure, minerals in the ground, and watch over crops. Farmers believed this good luck charm could increase their crop yield, and protect them from thieves and pests.

Gnomes have become controversial in serious gardening circles in the UK, and have been banned from the prestigious RHS Chelsea Flower Show, as the organisers claimed that they detracted from the garden designs. The ban was lifted just for 2013, which was the 100-year anniversary of gnomes.

Squire’s would like to see more UK gardens with gnomes in them! So bring your children to Squire’s at half-term and give a gnome a home!

Terms & Conditions: ‘Give a Gnome a Home’ takes around 20 minutes, and is available on a first come first served basis. Gnomes available while stocks last. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Visit www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk

Report and picture contributed by Samantha Cuthbert.